In 1974, the Asiatic Society celebrated the 190th anniversary of its foundation. This material covers correspondence and printed material connected to these celebrations. These are:

Letter from B. Mukerji, President, Asiatic Society, to The Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform the Society that the Asiatic Society will be celebrating its 190th anniversary and the 150th birth anniversary of Raja Rajendra Lal Mitra, with an exhibition highlighting the career and achievements of Raja Rajendra Lal Mitra. Further there will be lectures and a reception graced by the presence of the Governor of West Bengal. The presence and greetings of the Royal Asiatic Society are requested. Typed, dated 31 December 1973.

Letter from D. Crawford, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the President, Asiatic Society, to write on behalf of the President and Council of their delight to send greetings on this occasion. She inquires as to the date of the celebrations. Typed, dated 21 January 1974.

Letter from S.K. Mitra, General Secretary, Asiatic Society, to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for the letter and to inform that the functions were held in 15 January 1974. However they would still value a message of greetings from the President to publish in their Year Book. Typed, dated 1 February 1974.

Letter from E.H.S. Simmonds, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to President, Asiatic Society, to thank for the invitation and to say they would send greetings. Typed, dated 7 February 1974.

Letter from B. Mukerji, President, Asiatic Society, to The President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the ceremonies occurred on 15 January but that they would still values a message of greetings. Typed, dated 21 February 1974.

Letter from E.H.S. Simmonds, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to President, Asiatic Society, to send the official greetings of the Society. Typed, undated.

Letter from S.K. Mitra, General Secretary, Asiatic Society, to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for the message sent from the President. Typed, dated 25 April 1974.

"The Asiatic Society, Founded 15 January, 1784 [Issued on the occasion of the 190th Anniversary]", printed pamphlet detailing the history and work of the Asiatic Society, published 1974.

"Welcome Address on the Occasion of the 190th Foundation Anniversary by Dr B. Mukerji, President", printed pamphlet of the Presidential address, published 1974.

"Rajendralala, the Great Orientalist, 150th Birthday Anniversary", printed leaflet for the programme of the celebration of the anniversary by the Asiatic Society in collaboration with the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, 1974.

Two newspaper articles concerning the Asiatic Society. These are:

"Police raid Asiatic Society premises" concerning a police raid in connection with some stolen gold coins. From the Indian Express, New Delhi, 22 August 1996.

"Fallen Angels: Original paintings in the Asiatic Society rot for lack of space and funds" concerning the reportedly poor condition of some of the Society's Collections. From www.travel-india.com/new/1998/fallenangels.htm (no longer available on the internet)

Extract from the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (No. 62, N.S.) to report on the Proceedings of the Asiatic Society for February 1844. The monthly meeting on the 6 February had been an occasion on which Members were afforded an opportunity to express their sentiments on the departure of Hodgson. Printed material, 1 partial copy of 3 sides, 1 fuller extract which includes more details of Hodgson's life and works, 4 sides. Also printed testimonials to Hodgson from the Journal for October 1844, printed material, 8 sides.

"A Descriptive Catalogue of the Paintings, Statues, Framed Prints, Copper Plates and Other Curiosities in he Rooms of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, by C.R. Wilson, M.A., corrected up to April 1897." Pamphlet describing the Society's collections, published by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1897.

Correspondence from 1968 and 1969. These are:

Letter from S.K. Mitra, General Secretary, Asiatic Society, to the Secretary, Royal Central Asiatic Society to inform that Professor Dr. N.N. Das Gupta is going to Europe and they would like to take this opportunity of strengthening bonds with the Society. Dated 5 September 1968.

Letter from S.K. Mitra, General Secretary, Asiatic Society, to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society to give the academic qualifications of Dr Chatterjee. Dated 12 March 1969.

In 1984, the Asiatic Society celebrated its bicentenary. This material is concerned with the celebrations held in both Britain and India. These are:

Letter from the Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to John Burton-Page to ask if he would be the Society's contact to 'celebrate Sir William Jones in 1984'. Typed, dated 8 May 1978.

Letter from Garland Cannon, Professor of Linguistics, Texas A&M University, to Joan C. Lancaster, Director, India Office Library and Records, to respond to her suggestion of a London site for an International Symposium on the Bicentenary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. With this letter are others of support to and from Allan H. Fry, American Society of Geolinguistics, and to Mr. Afgani, Cologne, Germany. All these letters are photocopies, dated 13 May - 30 May 1978.

Letter from E.V. Gibson, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Professor Ballhatchet to enclose literature for a possible symposium in 1984 for the bicentenary. Typed, dated 16 February 1982.

Correspondence between Dennis Duncanson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, and Barry C. Bloomfield, The British Library, concerning the possibility of an exhibition at the British Library and the offer of a paper from Garland Cannon. Two letters, dated 29 June-20 September 1982. With this correspondence are copies of the correspondence between Ray Desmond and Garfield Cannon concerning the paper, two letters, dated 30 August - 7 September 1982.

Correspondence between Dennis Duncanson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, and P.C. Gupta, President, Asiatic Society, concerning the celebrations planned in London and inviting members of the Asiatic Society to be part of them. Two letters, dated 11 -25 November 1982.

Note to the President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform of a phone call from Mr Twite of the British Council concerning the Asiatic Society's intentions for celebrating their bicentenary. Typed, dated 14 December 1982.

Correspondence between the British Council, the Royal Asiatic Society and the Asiatic Society concerning the visit of Dr Chandan Roy Chaudhuri, General Secretary, Asiatic Society, to England and the chance for him to discuss the bicentenary celebrations. 3 letters and a reference, dated 28 July - 10 October 1983.

Letter from Satya S. Pachori, University of North Florida, to Dennis Duncanson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inquire regarding the possibility of presenting a paper at any forthcoming celebration of the bicentenary of the Asiatic Society, dated 12 October 1983.

Letter from R.H. Robins, Honorary Secretary, The Philological Society, to the Royal Asiatic Society to inquire regarding their plans to celebrate William Jones in 1984 as the Philological Society were considering a celebration in 1986 of 200 years since Jones' 'famous address to the Asiatick Society in 1786', dated 17 October 1983. With the letter are cards for the Meetings and the Council of the Philological Society.

Letter from Dr Chandan Roy Chaudhuri, General Secretary, Asiatic Society, to Dennis Duncanson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to invite him to be present at their celebrations to be inaugurated by Smt. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, on 15 January 1984, dated 11 October 1983.

Correspondence between Tan Sri Dato' Mubin Sheppard, Honorary Secretary, Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, and Dennis Duncanson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning the potential bicentenary celebrations of the Asiatic Society. Two letters, dated 10 -31 October 1983.

Letter from E.V. Gibson, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Fellows of the Society to inform them of the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Asiatic Society which the Royal Asiatic Society will hold on 12 January 1984. Dated 28 October 1983.

Letter from Dr Chandan Roy Chaudhuri, General Secretary, Asiatic Society, to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to give details of the bicentenary celebrations, to ask the presence of the Society and also requesting that the Society should celebrate the bicentenary. Dated 29 November 1983.

Letter from Hugh Cortazzi, British Embassy, Tokyo, to Dennis Duncanson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to send a letter of congratulations to the Asiatic Society from the Asiatic Society of Japan and to ask for him to forward it. The letter is with this one, both dated 2 December 1983.

Correspondence from Tan Sri Dato' Mubin Sheppard, Honorary Secretary, Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, to Dennis Duncanson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning a representative from the Malaysian Branch at the bicentenary celebrations of the Asiatic Society. Two letters, dated 4-23 December 1983.

Letter of congratulations from the Council and Fellows of the Royal Asiatic Society to the Council and Fellows of the Asiatic Society which is to be sent by the hand of Sir Cyril Philips, Vice-President of the Royal Asiatic Society. Undated.

Letter from the President, Royal Asiatic Society to Dr Chandan Roy Chaudhuri, General Secretary, Asiatic Society, to express the Society's gratification at the news brought back by Sir Cyril Philips concerning the Asiatic Society, particularly concerning its future. Dated 23 March 1984

"Rediscovery of our Heritage (The Inaugural Speech at the Bi-Centenary Celebrations of the Asiatic Society at Calcutta on 11th January 1984), Indira Gandhi", printed pamphlet containing the speech.

"The British Library Exhibition Notes: Sir William Jones and the Asiatic Society of Bengal". Printed exhibition leaflet held from 20 January - 29 April 1984 at the British Library, 3 copies.

Newspaper article "Letter from Calcutta" with section entitled, "Society in Distress" concerning the financial predicament of the Asiatic Society as it approaches its 200th anniversary. From The Illustrated Weekly of India, 6 February 1983.

Photocopy of a newspaper article, "Asiatic Society on verge of closure" regarding the state of the Asiatic Society. From Calcutta, The Telegraph, 14 March 1983.

Hodgson used much of his time in both Nepal and Darjeeling in research, wanting to discover and understand about the architecture, languages, ethnography, religion, zoology and botany. He collected specimens and manuscripts, and had many drawings made, which he donated to many collections throughout Europe. He was also politically involved during his Residency in Nepal, and also later in England, when he continued to show an active interest in the Indian subcontinent, particularly regarding trade and vernacular education. These Personal Papers reflect these interests and are a record of much of his activity - Hodgson and his wives seemed to have a need to record all his successes. He was also a keen annotator of material, so that most of the printed material also bears his handwritten comments.